One Final Thought: Inception (2010)
Originally published on Homers Radio Network November 9, 2018
Written by: Brian J. Sumner
You guys are well aware by now after listening to Jim and myself yammer on for the past year or so (good lord….it’s been over a year since we’ve started this?!) that we work for FedEx. It’s a pretty simple job; deliver packages to homes and businesses, pick up packages from homes and businesses, drive around all day, go home, sleep, repeat.
©1994 Morgan Creek Entertainment
Yet, we are approaching that time of year where all preconceived notions of what we do get tossed out the window as we say “Bye-Bye!!” to our respective families** and give our bodies, our lives, and even a small dark part of our souls to our company as tribute to the eldest delivery man of them all, Santa Claus, and spend countless hours helping that fat man deliver presents to all the boys and girls of the tri-state. (But mostly middle aged men shopping online at home in their underwear.)
**(My wife works for FedEx as well so she’s stuck with us in this twinkled, starry night hellish delivery nightmare but our children are “stuck” at home during the madness that is Christmas…ohhh…oh those unknowingly lucky children.)
In those long hours of the day, some of us “Elves” have routes that take us into the darkest recesses of Kentucky. Namely me. The term “Windshield Time” is never more prevalent than during the upcoming months and in those moments I am afforded time enough to reflect on things. Life, family, the death of my future
. . .
<ahem>…I’m sorry, what was I saying?
Anyway, I also get to think about deep, introspective things such as our existence and the age old question, “What does it all mean?” Now, you wouldn’t think that a train of thought such as that would relate to our little podcast but the concept of existence crept into my mind and it got me thinking about the movie Inception and how the concepts of that film intertwine with existence and reality. Then that got me to thinking about what the hell that ending really does mean with regard to a dream state and its direct connection with existence and the meaning of our individual beings. With all that in mind, it became all too clear that I needed to give this Christopher Nolan film. . .
One Final Thought
Like so many others, the end of that film, at least for me, became the focal point instantaneously and nearly erased all thoughts and insights into the rest of the film…which, let me say, the film was actually pretty damn amazing.
“I don’t know too many people (Myself included) that go to the theater looking for a philosophical or existential showdown on a cinematic scale with regard to film”
In Dude, What?! Podcast EP 026 you can relive our conversation about this film with Super Fan, Jessforthewin. The conversations concering “The Ending” (I put it in quotes and made it bold to make it seem more ominous) all seemed to trickle back to the meat of the story with regard to Leonardo DiCaprio’s character, Cobb, and what that ending directly implies to that characters future. We went back and forth and ultimately, the “open-endedness” of “The Ending” left more questions than answers. Which, I suppose, is the whole point after all! But what does that mean for the average John Q. Moviegoer?
A big ass headache is what that means! I don’t know too many people (Myself included) that go to the theater looking for a philosophical or existential showdown on a cinematic scale with regard to film. Let alone, constantly having to probe the internal database of the brain searching for answers to questions designed to not be answered. Very frustrating, indeed, and I still stand by my assessment that the film needed/deserved a more concise ending to compliment the other 2 hours and 27 minutes of pure cinematic artistry. But, that’s nitpicking after the fact and we’ve already covered those debates on our show.
Listen to Wobble
However, “The Ending,” regardless of how you feel about it, does create a dialogue and makes you think deeply and I must admit, I found myself treading mental waters of an unfamiliar territory as the movie replayed in my mind. The unknown of “The Ending” created a thought in my mind about the correlation between the “What’s beyond death?” and “What does it all mean?” questions. If you think about it, “The Ending” is a direct reflection of the debate between religious and non-religious folk who are constantly at odds as to what actually happens to your soul or spirit upon death.
Do you go to Heaven?
Do you go to Hell?
Is there a Heaven or a Hell?
Does life just turn black?
Do you get to see the ones you’ve lost before?
Or do you spend eternity in a dark void of nothingness?
(Seriously, “Windshield Time” is no joke)
The spinning top at the end of Inception wobbles ever so slightly as to indicate the illusion of reality for our main character, Cobb (DiCaprio), yet the screen goes black as to insinuate the presence of a dream state thus erasing Cobb’s chance to see his children again. Much like that final scene, until you actually experience death, what truly happens beyond that exact, final moment is unknown until you’re in it. So until that time, we are left to speculate and debate and talk in circles over what direction God has written for us in his script for our lives.
Some of you may be thinking I’m relating Christopher Nolan’s directing to God’s work…I mean, really! Have you not seen his films?!
Most people who consider themselves religious and devout truly believe in the concept of Heaven and living eternally in God’s grace and being with your loved ones from the past while other people see death as simply the end of an existence with nothing more to add on to their story. Then, there are those who think you are reincarnated and come back to life as a ficus in a future life………but those people typically get ignored because they listen to The Grateful Dead and carry around “magic crystals.” They’re just weird, am I right?
Disclaimer: We here at Dude, What?! accept all forms of people
from all walks of life including Christians, Pagans,
Muslims, Jedis, Vegans, Hippies, Nickelback Fans,
Rednecks, Floridians, Turtles, and Fans of Super Troopers.
But let’s be honest, you’re all freaking weird…in your own ways.
I think once you start breaking it down and really try to get a grasp for the poetry of the final moments, it ultimately becomes a teaching lesson about life and what we as people living in our day to day lives need to focus on. The unknowns of life and death should be motivating factors for all of us to go out and take every advantage to enjoy the things in life we hold dear. If you’re all about your family then fight a little harder each day to keep them and love them. If helping starving children is your passion then pour yourself into your work and make as much positive change as you can. The unknown just points out how much we should value what we already have in our lives. Much like Cobb should have done.
Inception ©2010 Warner Bros.
Point being is this: Inception as a movie is truly a cinematic marvel and I did enjoy it as a whole. As a film, I still feel “The Ending” requires more resolution, but looking beyond the cinematic scope and examining the true nature and focus of the story’s meaning, I can compromise my overall critique to give it a higher ranking of 5, The Big Lebowski treatment, and just simply understand and appreciate the beauty and genius of its storytelling. And to think, all it took was some county driving and a touch of existential crisis!
Just a minor crisis…I swear to you, I’m good. Seriously!
Thanks to everyone who tune in and subscribe to the podcast and a big thank you to everyone who took the time to read my One Final Thought on Inception.
Brian J. Sumner is the Host of Dude, What?!, author of The Secrets of Dr. Killiecrankie & a honorary Deli Lama (not to be confused with Dalai Lama)
